Confectionery extruding machine



May 6, 1941.

J. T. BE Q 2,241,236

CONFECTIONERY EXTRUDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l 44 49 I 1 7 46 j l INVENTOR.

JOHN T. B ERRY TTORNEY.

May 6, 1941. J. 'r. BERRY CONFECTIONERY EXTRUDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eli--4.

Ins--5- 00000000060009 INVENTOR. JUH N TBERR Y A TORNE Y.

y 1941 I J. T. BERRY 2,241,236

CONFECTIONERY EXTRUDING' MACHINE Filed Nov. 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA 70 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

. J. T. BERIARY 2,241,236 CONFEC'IIONERY EXTRUDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 f I 5-- 5- .fl 5--10- lolfi 5+ L g E @J/ H H [F 69 I l] HHIHUHIMnnnn i w 129 I a;

INVENTOR. JOHN T BERRY TORNEY.

May 6, T, BERRY 7 2,241,236

CONFECTIONERY EXTRUDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIELML JOHN T. BERRY ATTORNEY.

Patented May 6, 1941 CONFECTIONERY EXTRUDING MACHINE John T. Berry, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor of one third to Daniel J. Mullen and one-third to Earl F. Heist, both of Philadelphia, Pa.

Application November 22, 1939, SerialNo. 305,609

10 Claims. (Cl. 107-14) This invention relates to confectionery extruding machinery, and more especially to the type that will extrude and cut off a mass of plastic material of predetermined length and cross-sectional area.

The machine is intended to extrude plastic confectionery material, such as cocoanut, cream, mixtures of same and other confectionery bodies.

In other confectionery extruding machines it has been necessary to provide a method for cleaning the adhering glucose material from the member that extrudes the material. This is usually done by applying steam to the extruding member. The hook-up for this purpose practically makes the machine a permanent fixture as it could not be readily moved from place to place.

In the operation of confectionery machinery the machines are often stopped while the material is still in process. Upon starting such a machine the glucose would form a hard film on the extruding member which would cause one or more of the operating parts to break upon starting the mechanism of the machine.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine for extruding confectionery without the necessity of cleansing means such as steam as heretofore required.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for extruding and cutting off pieces of material of predetermined length and cross-sectional area that are commercially uniform in both size and shape.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a confectionery machine in which the confectionery is extruded by displacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with a confectionery extruding machine mechanism for changing the shape of the extruded pieces.

According to the invention, the confectionery extruding machine comprises a supply chamber for material to be formed, a displacement chamber, a valve between said chambers, an openended extrusion die communicating with said displacement chamber, and a displacement plunger operating in said displacement chamber for extruding materials through said die. The die is always open to the displacement chamber and its outer end is always open for discharge. The valve is closed when the displacement plunger operates so that the material from the displacement chamber is forced through the die'memb'er. The material may be changing the shape of the bodies is shown broken,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the hopper and the die member,

Figure 3 is a detail of the serrated feed rolls, Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figj ure 3,

Figure 515 a detail of the die member, Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 5,

Figure 7' is a diagrammatic View showing the method of operating the extruding member and also the method of adjusting the stroke,

. Figure 8 is a' section on the line'8-8 of Figure 7, I

Figure 9'is a detail of the feed "valve, Figure 10 is a section on the line |0-'l0 of Figure 9, Figure 11 is a plan view showing the crosshead for operating a plurality of extrudin members,-

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic View showing the main cam shaft and the arrangement of the operatingparts,

Figure 13 is a plan view of the valve operating cam,

Figure 14 is a plan view showing the operation of the hon ibon rolling attachment, Figure 15 is a section taken onthe line l5- -l of Figure 14,

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 16-46- of Figure 14, and

Figure 17 is a sectional view of a die:

As illustrated in the drawings, the 'machine has a main frame [8 with legs I9 for supporting it. Mounted on the top of the frame is a displacement schamber M on' .top of which is mounted a supply chamber 22.

The displacement chamber 21- has a series of partitions or walls 25 dividing the displacement chamber into a plurality of small chamcam shaft 43. v the bearings 45 of the frame I8.

. drawings.

venient shape. The dies I have an aperture bers. These partitions tend to break up any air pockets which may have formed in the material while in the supply chamber. The lower part of the supply chamber is enlarged and houses a pair of serrated feed rolls 23 driven by a pair of spur gears 24 and 24 mounted on the central shafts 26 of the feed rolls 23. The shafts 26 are housed in bearin s 21.

Immediately below the feed rolls is a supply valve 28 which is supported in the bearing 29. The periphery of the valve engages the top of the walls 25 and completely seals each chamber, thus insuring uniform displacement of mass through each forming die. The opposite end of the supply valve has an enlarged bearing 3i and is supported in a bearing cap 32.

v The operating end of the supply valve has a crank 33 keyed to the shaft 34. The crank 33 is connected to the bell crank 36 by the lever 31. The bell crank 36 is mounted on the shaft 33. The opposite arm of the bell crank 36 is connected to the cam follower 39 by the lever M. The cam follower 39 is adapted to cooperate with the cam 42 which is mounted on the main The cam shaft 43 is mounted in Mounted on the shaft 26 is a link 44 which supports a pawl 46, this pawl meshes with the teeth of the spur gear 24. The link 44 is adjustably connected to a slotted arm 4! at 48 by the arm 54 by the link 56, the link 56 being adjustable in the slotted arm 54. The slotted arm 54 is fixedly mounted on a stub shaft 51, said stub shaft being pivotally mounted in the frame I8. Pivotally connected to the slotted arm 54 is a yoke having a link 58 which is in turn con- 4.0

nected to a crank 59 mounted on the outer end 64 the length of stroke is readily changed.

Fixedly mounted on the cross shaft 5I are the quadrants 66 meshing with the racks 67 which slide in ways (not shown) in the frame I8. Attached to the racks 61 is a cross head 68 (Figure 11). Connected to this cross head is a series of plunger arms 69. These plunger arms are connected to the displacement plungers II which operate in the displacement chamber 2i. The displacement plungers 'H are adapted to slideto and fro in the chamber 2 I.

One end of the displacement chamber is provided with a die holder I2 held in place by the key I3 which fits in the keyway I4. This die holder I2 is provided with a series of apertures I6 for receiving dies I5 of different sizes and shapes.

The die holder I2 is provided with a longitudinal keyway 14 The die I5 is provided with a complementary keyway 80. After placingthe dies I5 in the apertures I6 of the die holder I2,

the key 85 is placed in the aligning keyways 74 and 80. This key holds the die I5 in position. The construction of the dies .15 and the apertures I6 of the die holder are shown circular in the This, however, may be of any con- The other end of io extending longitudinally therethrough. However, the apertures I5 may be of any shape so as to obtain difierent shapes and sizes of pieces. Each displacement plunger II operates in conjunction with an aperture 15 The opposite side of the displacement chamber where the displacement plunger operates is provided with a lip II which will remove any material that may adhere to the displacement plunger 'II. The end of this side of the displacement chamber is sealed from the atmosphere by the cap 'I'I held in position by the cap screws ID. This will prevent any glucose from hardening by oxidation on the displacement plunger and will increase the clearances of the moving parts and thus prevent excessive strains on the operating linkage.

Mounted on the outer end of the shaft 36 is a lever I8 which is connected to the bell crank I9 by the lever 8!. The bell crank I9 is mounted on a shaft 82 which is mounted in the frame supporting member 83. The opposite end of the bell crank I9 is pivotally connected to the link 84 which is in turn pivotally connected to the upright shaft 86 mounted in a sliding bearing'8'I. Mounted on the upper end of the upright shaft 86 is a wire cutter 88 positioned immediately outside of the dies I5. When motion is imparted to the bell crank I9 from the shaft 38, the upright shaft 86 is pulled down and brings the wire cutter 08 into action.

Built into the frame is a shelf 89 to which an electric motor 9| is mounted in an inverted position. The outer end of the shaft 92 of the electric motor is provided with a gear 93 which meshes with a gear 94 fixedly mounted on a stub shaft 96. Fastened to the gear 94 is the gear 91 meshing with the gear 98 which is fixedly mount ed on the stub shaft 99. Keyed to the stub shaft 99 is the pinion gear IIII meshing with the gear I02 which is fixedly mounted on the main cam shaft 43. This'arrangement of gearing provides the necessary speed reduction for the successful operation of this machine, and transmits power to the cam shaft 43.

Mounted adjacent to the gear I02 on the main cam shaft 43 is a sprocket I03. In the frame I8 is'a cross shaft I04 having a sprocket I06 mounted thereon. The sprockets I06 and I03 are connected by the sprocket chain I0I. Also mounted on the shaft I04 is a conveyor belt roller (not shown) on which rides a conveyor belt I08.

Mounted on the conveyor belt frame I09 are four upright brackets III (Figure 15). The top part of each of these upright brackets III form inclined supporting surfaces H2. Each of these surfaces H2 has a complementary triangular block I i3 which is welded to a track H4. Welded to either side of the blocks H3 are guides H6 and I I1. These guides keep the triangular blocks H3 in alignment with the supporting surfaces H2.

A forming plate I I8 is supported by the brackets I I 9. The brackets I I 9 are welded to longitudinal supports I2I. The longitudinal supports are free to slide on the track I I4 and are held in position frame at I28. The opposite end of the arm I21 is provided with a cam roller I29. Mounted on the stub shaft 89 is a cylindrical cam I3I. The cam roller I29 operates on the surface of the cylindrical cam I3I. The spring I32, which is secured between the operating arm I21 and the conveyor belt frame, holds the operating arm [21 under tension and keeps the cam 'roller I29 against the face of the cylindrical cam I3I. travel of the operating arm may be changed by changing the pivoting point I28 to either one of the positions I38 or I38.

When the cylindrical cam I3I revolves, the arm I2I will be made to travel in an oscillating path which will in turn move the forming plate H8 in a direction of the arrow AA in Figure 14. With the forming plate II8 moving in the direction of the arrow A-A and the conveyor belt in the direction of the arrow B, any plastic articles which will pass under the rolling plate, which has been properly adjusted with respect to height from the conveyor belt, will receive a rolling motion and the shape will be changed into that of a ball.

By varying the rapidity of oscillation of the forming plate, it is possible to achieve various odd shapes of pieces from a given size of confectionery slug. This can be accomplished by changing the cam I3I, which is a single point cam, and using a multiple-point cam. In other words, a diamond shape can be made, an egg shape, a semi-circular shape, etc.

At the free end of the forming plate II8, adjusting screws I33 are amounted in the brackets I34. The screws are free to revolve in the brackets but are held against any longitudinal movement. The brackets I34 are mounted on the conveyor belt frame I09. The two guides H8 at this end of the mechanism are provided with .a knee I36 which is bored and tapped to receive the adjusting screws I33.

By turning the adjusting screws I33, the triangular blocks are drawn along the inclined surface H2 and will increase the height of the track II4 above the conveyor belt I88. This, in turn, will raise the supporting plate II8 due to the fact that the longitudinal members I2I are riding on the surface of the tracks H4.

The two triangular blocks II3 which are at the end of the forming plate II8, which is connected to the link I26, are connected to each other, by a cross member I31 having cap screws I38 holding the cross member I31 against the triangular blocks H3.

The operation of the extruding machine will be readily understood by referring to Figure'l. Motion is applied to the main cam shaftfrom the motor 9I. The confectionery or other material is then placed in the supply chamber 22 and the desired length of piece which is to be extruded is determined by setting the adjusting screw 64. This will position the lever 56 which, in turn, operates the cross shaft I on which the quadrants 66 operate. These quadrants 66 mesh with the racks 61 and impart motion to the cross head 68 which causes the displacement plungers II to enter the displacement chambers 2I and extrude material through the dies I5. Also operating on the same cross shaft 5I is the arm 41 which moves in a path of the arrows C-C of Figure 1.

The link 44 is adjustably connected to the link 41 by the lever 49. Connected to the link 44 is the pawl 46 which meshes with the teeth of the The spur gear 24;.1 When the arm 41 moves backward the pawll46' rides over the teeth of the spur gear 24'. On the return travel of the arm 41, the pawl 46 engages with one of the teeth of the spur gear 24 and pushes the spur gear along withit to the end of the stroke of the arm 41. The'teeth-of the spur gear 24 being in mesh with the teeth of the spur gear 24 will cause the spur gear. 24 to move the same distance as the spur gear 24. This movement gives an intermittent motion to the serrated feed rolls 23.

Below the serrated feed rolls is a valve 28 which is operated by linkage from the cross shaft 38. Mounted on the cross shaft 38 is a bell crank 36. One arm.- of the bell crank 36 is connected to a lever 4|, this lever 4I terminating in a cam follower 39 which rides on the cam 42 of the main cam shaft 43. When the cam 42 reaches its high point, the lever 4| moves upward and operates the shaft 38 closing the valve 28. This motion takes place at the instant the serrated feed rolls are at the end of their intermittent travel. When the valve 28 is closed, the crank 59, which is mounted on the main cam shaft 43, imparts motion to the quadrant 66 in the direction of the arrow D which, in turn, moves the rack 61 and causes the cross head 68 to push the displacement plungers into the displacement chambers and extrude the material out through the apertures in the dies I5.

When the displacement plungers II reach the end of their stroke and start on the backward travel, the valve 28 is opened and the serrated feed rolls 23 are brought into action. When the valve 28 is opened, the cross shafts 38 simultaneously move the crank I8, which is connected to the bell crank I9, by the lever 8|, the opposite end of the bell crank 19 being connected to the lever 84 which is connected to the upright shaft 86 of the wire cutter 88. The bell crank I9 being moved by the action of the cross shaft 38 will cause the wire cutter 88 to be pulled down and cut off any extruded part extending from the die I5. The material will then travel along, on the conveyor belt I38 which is in continuous operation and pass under the forming plate I I8 which is moving in the direction of the arrow A-A due to the operating arm I2! moving in an oscillating path by virtue of the cam roller I29 operating in conjunction with a cylindrical cam I3I. This will change the shape of the extruded bodyfrom that of a cylindrical slug to that of a spherical body, such asis necessary in the manufacture of bon bons and the like;

It will be noticed thatthe valve 28 is closed when the displacement plunger II enters the chamber, this makes it impossible for the material to get back to the supply chamber and it must go through the die I5. The timed relationship of all the parts of this machine is very essential for its successful operation.

It has been found by many hours of experiment that the material extruded from this machine is not compressed to such a degree that the oils within it are forced to the surface of the pieces produced. As a result, the confections themselves are uniform throughout their entire body and can be coated with cream, chocolate or any suitable commercial coating immediately after being extruded.

Of course, the extruding machine illustrated and described herein may be modified in various ways' without departing from the invention here- .inset forth and hereafter claimed.

-- The invention is hereby. claimed as follows:

1 'A' confection extruding machine comprising a supply-chamber for material to be formed, a

displacement chamber, a valve between said cleansing said plunger and a chamber providing a space aroundsame.

2r. A1 confection extruding machine comprising ,asupply chamber for material to be formed, a displacement chamber, a valve between said chambers, an extrusion die communicating at all [times with said displacement chamber and open at all times at its ejection'end, a plunger for extension into the mass of material in said displacement chamber for forcing material through said die, said displacement chamber ,being substantiallylarger. than the plunger in cross-sectional area at least at the portion thereof adapted to receive. the plunger in extended position and a housing for said plunger comprising an inwardly extending lip adjacent the displacement chamber for cleansing said plunger and a chamber providing, a space around same.

STA confection extruding machine comprising a supply chamber for material to be formed, a displacement chamber, a valve between said chambers, an' extrusion die communicating at all times with said displacement chamber and open at ,all times at itsv ejection end, a plunger for extensioninto the mass of material in said displacement chamber fcr forcing material through saiddie, said displacement chamber being substantially larger than the plunger in cross-sectional area throughout'the working stroke of the plunger and means for housing said plunger comprising a slideway scr'aping lip adjacent the displacement chamber and a casing surrounding and spaced from said plunger.

41A confectionery extruding machine comprising a supply chamber for'material to be formed, a displacement chamber, a valve between said chambers, an open-ended extrusion die com- 'municating-with said displacement chamber, and

a 'displacementplunger "substantially smaller in cross-sectional area thanthe displacement cham-' ber operable in said displacement chamber for "extruding material through said die.

5. .A conf-ectioneryiextruding machine comprising a supply chamber for. material to be formed, a displacement chamber; a valve between said chambers, a forming die continuously open to said displacement chamber and atmosphere, and a displacement plun er substantially smaller in cross-sectional area than the displacement chamber operable in said displacement chamber for extruding material through said die.

6. A confectionery extruding machine comprising asupply chamber for material to be formed, a displacement chamber, a valve between said chambers, a forming die continuously open to atmosphere communicating with said displacement chamber, a displacement plunger substantially smaller in cross-sectional area than the displacement chamber for extruding material through said die, and means for closing said valve during operation of the plunger. A 7. A confectionery extruding machine comprising a supply chamber for material to be formed, a displacement chamber, a valve between said chambers, a forming die continuously open to atmosphere communicating with said displacement' chamber, a displacement plunger substantially smaller in cross-sectional area than the displacement chamber for extruding material through said die, and means for forcing material from said supply chamber through said valve and into said displacement chamber.

8.-A confectionery extruding machine comprising a supply chamber for material to be formed, flaijdisplacement chamber, a valve be- :tvreen said chambers, means for forcing material from saidjsupply' chamber through said valve and into said displacement chamber, an openended extrusion, die communicating with said displacement chamber, a displacement plunger substantially smaller in cross-sectional area than the displacement chamber and operable therein for extruding material through said die, and mechanism for automatically operating said valve, saidforcing means and said plunger in timed relation.

9;. Aiconf ectionery extruding machine comprising a supply chamber for material to be formed, a displacement chamber, a valve between said chambers, an open-ended extrusion diecommunicatingwith said displacement chambe r a displacement plunger substantially smaller in cross-sectional area than'the displacement chamber and operable therein for extruding material through said die, means for severing the extruded material 'at the outer end of said die, and mechanismfor'operating said valve, plunger, and 'severing'means' in timed relation.

lOI'Abbhfectionery extruding machine comprising a supply chamber for the material to be formed, a displacement chamber, a valve between 'said' chambers, a" forming die continuously opened to said displacement chamber and to the atmosphere, a'displacement plunger smaller in .cross s'ectional' area than said displacement cha'inberand operable therein for extruding ma terial through said die, a housing for said plunger ,havingits walls spaced therefrom, and scraping me'a'ns :associated with the housing for cleaning the'pl'ungerI JOHN T. BERRY. 

